Caleys
Encyclopedia
Caleys was a department store
in Windsor
, Berkshire
, England
.
It opened in the High Street in 1823, when an existing family business transferred from Castle Street, now Castle Hill. For much of the 20th century it was part of department store groups and it acquired royal warrants. However, by the early 21st century it had ceased to be viable and was closed.
for over a century, growing into a well regarded department store opposite Windsor Guildhall which is close to Windsor Castle
. The business was purchased by Selfridge Provincial Stores in 1919. This group, together with Caleys, was acquired by the John Lewis Partnership
in 1940.
's branches were disposed of, others enlarged and new stores built, Caleys became the smallest of the John Lewis department stores.
On 18 January 2006, John Lewis announced the closure of the store, stating that 'the location, size and layout of the building will always stand in the way of any prospect of a return to profitable trading'. Caleys closed in July 2006.
s, at the time of the closure, as 'supplier of household and fancy goods' to Her Majesty The Queen
and as 'supplier of household and fancy goods and millinery' to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
.
-based chocolate
manufacturer established in 1883 by Alfred Jarman Caley, son of John and Mary Ann Caley.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
in Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It opened in the High Street in 1823, when an existing family business transferred from Castle Street, now Castle Hill. For much of the 20th century it was part of department store groups and it acquired royal warrants. However, by the early 21st century it had ceased to be viable and was closed.
History
The store was established by John Caley and his wife Mary Ann Caley on 5 April 1823 as advertised in the Windsor Express at the time and remained a family businessFamily business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
for over a century, growing into a well regarded department store opposite Windsor Guildhall which is close to Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. The business was purchased by Selfridge Provincial Stores in 1919. This group, together with Caleys, was acquired by the John Lewis Partnership
John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned UK partnership which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and a number of other services...
in 1940.
Decline and Closure
As a number of the partnershipPartnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
's branches were disposed of, others enlarged and new stores built, Caleys became the smallest of the John Lewis department stores.
On 18 January 2006, John Lewis announced the closure of the store, stating that 'the location, size and layout of the building will always stand in the way of any prospect of a return to profitable trading'. Caleys closed in July 2006.
Royal Warrants
Caleys held two royal warrantRoyal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
s, at the time of the closure, as 'supplier of household and fancy goods' to Her Majesty The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and as 'supplier of household and fancy goods and millinery' to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
.
Further Information
Caley's (with an apostrophe) is also the name of a NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
-based chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
manufacturer established in 1883 by Alfred Jarman Caley, son of John and Mary Ann Caley.
Sources
- Windsor Express and its successors. (Various editions, early 19th c. to early 21st c.)
- Windlesora. (Windsor Local History Group, various editions.)
- Windlesora website
- The History of Caleys (On John Lewis website.)